FUTURE LEADERS IN PLANNING (FLIP)

About the Future Leaders in Planning Program

Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) is the Capital District Regional Planning Commission’s (CDRPC) immersive summer program that introduces high school students to the exciting and diverse world of urban and regional planning. Through hands-on experiences, field trips, and direct interaction with professionals, participants explore how planners, engineers, environmental scientists, and community leaders work together to create safer, healthier, and more sustainable communities.

FLIP encourages students to think critically about the places where they live while discovering educational and career opportunities that can make a lasting impact on the future of their region!

Explore Topics Like

  • Transportation Planning
  • Environmental & Water Resource Protection
  • Community & Economic Development
  • Historic Preservation
  • Housing & Land Use Planning
  • Parks, Recreation & Public Spaces

Gain Valuable Experience Through

  • Guided bike tours and walking tours
  • Kayaking and water quality monitoring
  • Field visits and site investigations
  • Interactive planning workshops
  • Mentorship from planners and community leaders
  • Behind-the-scenes tours of projects and public facilities

Interested in joining FLIP? The program will return in Summer 2027. Stay tuned for application information and program updates, and be part of the next generation of Future Leaders in Planning!

Previous Years:

 

 

2023 FLIP Recap

 

The 2023 Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program brought together another outstanding group of students for a week of hands-on learning across New York’s Capital Region.

Participants explored planning in action through visits to Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs, and Tivoli Preserve, where they met with local planners, community organizations, and regional partners. From discussions on food access at the South End Grocery and Blue Light Development Group to complete streets in Troy, downtown revitalization in Saratoga Springs, and environmental stewardship at Tivoli Preserve, students gained firsthand insight into the many ways planning shapes healthy, resilient, and vibrant communities.

The week concluded with student presentations, allowing participants to showcase their ideas and receive feedback from planning professionals and community members.

2023 Partners and Sponsors

 

                                                     

2022 FLIP Recap

The second year of FLIP was a great success, bringing together students from across the Capital Region for an exciting week of learning, collaboration, and exploration.

Participants visited Troy, Albany, Saratoga Springs, and the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, where they experienced planning firsthand through site visits, conversations with local professionals, and interactive activities. The program concluded with student presentations, allowing participants to showcase what they learned and receive feedback from planning professionals and community members.

 

 

 

 

2022 Partners and Sponsors

2019 FLIP Recap

FLIP launched its pilot program in 2019, connecting high school students with the opportunities and challenges of regional planning across New York’s Capital Region.

In collaboration with the Clean Technology and Sustainable Industries Early College Program, students spent an engaging week exploring communities and organizations including Saratoga Springs, Albany Pine Bush Preserve, GlobalFoundries, Brookfield Renewable’s Cohoes Hydropower Facility, Pitney Meadows Community Farm, and Sierra Processing.

Along the way, participants learned about transportation, energy, economic development, sustainability, and open space conservation while connecting with planning professionals and industry leaders. The week concluded with student presentations and a community panel, marking the successful launch of the FLIP program.

 

2019 Partners and Sponsors